Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has issued a cautionary message to Barcelona regarding the management of their rising star, Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old winger has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in world football, despite being in only his second season as a professional.
Yamal has earned widespread praise for his performances both at the club and international levels. He became a regular starter for Barcelona at just 16 years old and played a key role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024 last summer. His rapid rise has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greatest talents, but Henry has urged Barcelona to handle the youngster with care.
Speaking during his analysis of UEFA Champions League games on CBS Sports Studio, Henry referenced the cautionary tale of his former Barcelona teammate, Bojan Krkic, to highlight the potential pitfalls of mismanaging young talent.
“You can see what can happen to you when you’re young and you don’t know how to deal with everything. Everything is happening very quickly,” Henry said. “He [Bojan] got lost in terms of anxiety and not wanting to be seen too much. That is something that sometimes people do not understand and do not want to understand because they see you there, you are playing, and they forget that he is a child who went from not being known to everyone thinking he is good. Which, by the way, is good.”
Bojan Krkic, once hailed as the next big thing at Barcelona, struggled to live up to the immense expectations placed on him during his early career. Now an executive at the club, Bojan has openly shared his experiences in a documentary, reflecting on how the pressure and rapid rise affected his mental health and performance.
Henry’s comments serve as a reminder of the challenges young players face when thrust into the spotlight at such a young age. He emphasized the importance of providing proper support and guidance to ensure Yamal can continue to develop without being overwhelmed by the demands of top-level football.
DAILY MENTOR reports that Barcelona will need to strike a delicate balance between nurturing Yamal’s immense talent and protecting him from the pressures that come with being a global football sensation. With the right management, Yamal has the potential to become one of the game’s all-time greats, but as Henry’s warning suggests, the club must learn from past mistakes to ensure his success.